Firearm



Dec. 15, 1925- c. G. SWEBILIUS FIREARM Original Filed May 15, 1919 ll l llllll CARL G. S'WEBILIUS, OF HER? HAVEN. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- IYIENTS, TO THE IJARLIN FIREARME CORPOBATIGN, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTI- CUT, A CORPORATION OF DELAEVARE.

FIREARM.

Griginai application filed May 15, 1919, Serial No.

6, 1920, Serial No. 415,040.

To (ZZZ "to/tom, it may concem:

Be it. known that I, ARL GUSTAF SWE- mLiUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to firearms of the automatic type and pertains more particularly to firing-control mechanisms for such guns.

The subject matter of this application is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 297,201, filed May 15, 1919, but not claimed therein.

In certain types of automatic firearms the forward movement of the breech mechanism is effective to chamber a cartridge and ex plode the same immediately thereafter. In this type of guns the breech mechanism is usually retained in the rear portion of the receiver by a sear or the like which is moved from its retaining position to release the breech mechanism by amannally-operated trigger. It is to guns of this character that my invention is particularly applicable.

in such guns as these, more especially if they are intended for use in warfare, it is desirable to provide means for controlling the conditions of firing thereof whereby the gun may be operated automatically or semiautomatically or may be locked against operation. To accomplish this I have arranged a pivotally-mounted sear in the receiver which sear is adapted to engage the breech mechanism hen it is in the rear portion of the receiver and to retain it in such position. Operatively associated with the sear is a spring-pressed reciprocatiyely-n'iountcd triglnterposed between the trigger and the sear is a spring which normally maintains the sear in position to engage the breech hanism. The trigger and sear are provided with coacting means whereby move ment of thetrigger in one direction a predetermined distance is eli'ective to move the ear out of breech-mecbanismcngaging positioinnnd further movement of the trigger in the 12119, direction allows the sear to re same s rormal position. Furthermore. the arrangen ent of said means is such during the return of the trigger to its original posi- 297,201. Divided and this application filed October Renewed October 7, 1925.

regulating the path of reciprocation of the trigger. This means may be set to lock the trigger in its normal position, may be set to allow only sutlicient movement of the trigger to move the sear out of engaging position or may be set to allow the trigger to be drawn the full limit of its path. The first arrangement of said means prevents the firing of the gun; the second arrangement allows full automatic or continuous firing of the gun, since, as long as pressure is exerted on the trigger, the sear is maintained out of position to engage the breech mechanism; the third arrangement provides for single-shot firing since the trigger must be released and then again pulled before the sear can be again disengaged from the breech mech anism. The regulating means is so arranged that the change from volley-firing position to single-shot position and vice versa may be easily made, but said means cannot be accidentally moved into safety position, although the change from safety position to either of the other two positions may be readily made.

Referring now to the drawings,

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through the receiver with the elements of the gun in cocked position, part of the elements being in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

F 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the receiver 1 is reciprocatively mounted the breech bolt 2 which is operatively connected to the rear end 3 of the action slide 3 The bottom portion of the action slide is provided with a shoulder 4 which is adapted to be engaged by the sear 5 to retain the breech mechanism atv the rear end of the receiver when the gun is cooked.

The bottom wall'of the receiver is preferably a plate 6 which has tongues 7 engaged in grooves 8 in the outer faces of the side walls of the receiver and which may be removed from the receiver by a sliding movement. Extending downwardly from the plate is .a rib 9, the rear portion ofwhich is cut out as at 10. In the plate 6 and extend ing into the rib 9 is a groove 11, the forward end of which is extended downwardly to form a well 12.

the aperture of this groove is of greater width thanthe lower portion thereof, thus providing the shoulders 13 extending longitudinally of the groove. In the groove is pivotally mounted, by means of the removable pin 14, the sear 5, having legs15 at its forward end adapted to engage the shoulders 13 in the groove 11 to limit the downward movement of the forward end of the sear. Reciprocatively mounted on the shoulders 13 in the groove 11 and'directly below the sear 5, is the trigger 16 having at its forward end the head 17 extending downinto the well 12, the upper front portion of the head being reduced sufiiciently to extend between the legs 15 of the sear '5, and havingat its rearend the finger piece 18 extending into the cutout portion 10 of the rib 9. Carried by the sear 5 is a wire spring 18? which bears against the trigger 16 and serves to normally hold the, rear end of the sear in position to engage the shoulder ion the rear end I I slide, the contact of the legs 15 with the houlder 13 preventing the engagement of the front ends ofthe trigger 16 and sear 5. Onthe under surface of the front end off, the sear is a projection having the face 19 oblique to the surface of the scar and the face 20Vperpendicular thereto. This projection is preferably formed by cutting two transverse notchesin the under surface of the sear. In the head 17 is a recess in which is pivotallymounted sa dog 21, an oblique-faced portion 22 ofwhich projects above the upper surface of the trigger 16 sufficiently to be in alinement with the projection. on the sear. This dog is normally held injthe position shownin Fig. 1 by the spring 23, but may be rotated rearwardly so that the dog is wholly withinthe socket. The trigger ,isnorm ally held in its forward position by means of the stud 24 seated in 25 at the rear end of the groove 11, which stud bears against the spring 26 seated in the socket 27, in the rear end of the trigger. Extending through the walls of the well 12 is a transverse elliptical cut in which is reciprocatively mounted a slide 28 having in its forward edge a recess 29,

of the action the inner portion of which is of suflicient width to receive the reduced inner end of the head 17 of the trigger, and the walls of which recess are cut away to provide the shoulders 30' and 31 at different distances from the bottom thereof, On the rear edge of the slide are cut the notches 32, 33 and 34, the adjacentwalls of the notches 32 and 33 being "oblique to thefedge of the slide, while the wall of thenot'ch 33 adjacent the notch EAis approximately perpendicular to the edge, of the slide, and the wall of the notch '34 adjacent .the notch 33 is oblique, to

the? ledge fol-f the. d Reciprocative1y mounted in the well 12 b lo th Slide 28 and the head 1715 a semicircular red 35 ger.

the influence'of the spring 23.

which extends through a bore in the front portion of the rib 9. The forward end of this rod is provided with a cylindrical head 36 and carries at its rear end a projection 37 the edge of which is adapted to engage in any of 'the notches 32, 33 and 34. One of the faces of this projection is'oblique and the other perpendicular to the edge of the slide 28. The rod 35 is normally held with the edge of the projection 37 in engagement With the slide 28 by the spring 38.

To lock the gun in safety the rod 35 is pushed rearwardly and the slide 28 is moved tobring the shoulder 31 in position to be engaged by the head 17 of the trigger. This shoulder is so arranged on the slide as to prevent appreciable movement of the trig- To set the gun for single-shot firing the slide is moved to bring the narrow portion of the recess 29 in alinement with the head 17. The trigger may now be drawn back the full limit of its throw. During the first part of the rearward movement of the trigger the contact of the oblique faces 19and 22 of the sear 5 and dog a respectively lifts the front end of the scar and disengages the rear end thereof from the shoulder 4:, thereby allowing the breech mechanism to move forward and fire the gun. Further rearward movement of the trigger disengages the dog from the proje-ction on the sear and allows the sear to return to normal position under the influence of the spring 18 to be ready to engage the shoulder f when the breech 1118Cl1- its axis into its recess until the trigger reaches its forward position, when the dog is free to resume its normal position under Since the time which is consumed during a reciprocation of the breech mechanism is only a very small fraction of a second, the sear is again-engaged with the shoulder after being tripped before it is possible for the trigger to be returned to its normal position. The fact that complete reciprocation of the triggeris necessary for each tripping of the sear results in-the firing of only a single shot for each pull of the trigger. The gun may be set for automatic firing by moving the slide 28 to bring the shoulder 30- into position to engage the head 17 This shoulder is so arranged on the slide that thetrigger can be moved rearwardly only enough to lift the forward end of the sear' but not enough to allow the sear to resume a and maintains it out of shoulder-engag ing position so long as pressure is exerted on the trigger. This allows the breech mechanism to reciprocate uninterruptedly under the influence of the force exerted by the explosion and the action spring.

The slide 28 is maintained in any one of its three positions by the engagement of the projection 37 in one of the notches 32, 33 and 34. The arrangement of the oblique and perpendicular faces of the notches and the projection 37 is such that the slide 28 can be moved from safety position to singleshot or automatic-firing positions or from single-shot position to auton'iatic-firing po sition, and vice versa, merely by pressing the slide in the proper direction but to move the slide into safety position the rod must first be pushed rearwardly. This feature is of importance if the gun is to be used in warfare. The notches and projection may, however, be so formed that it will be necessary to push back the rod to change the conditions of firing from one to the other.

The scar, trigger, slide and rod may be removed from the plate 6 by removing the pin If and lifting out the sear. The stud 2a may then be forced out of the aperture until its rear end is flush with the rear wall of the grove 11, after which the trigger may be removed from the groove. The rod 35 is then pushed rearwardly against the action of the spring 88 suf iciently to allow the slide 28 to be removed, after which the rod itself may be Withdrawn through the bore.

What I claim is:

1. In a firearm, a trigger capable of reciprocation onl a sear pivotally mounted adjacent said trigger, means for normally maintaining said sear and trigger in a predetermined relation to each other, and members on each of said elements having faces substantially oblir and perpendicular to the path of reci rocation of said trigger, the said oblique being opposed to each other in the normal position of the scar and trigger.

In a firearn'i, a trigger capable of re- '-"'ocation only, a sear pivotally mounted ad cent said trigger, means for normally maintaining said sear and trigger in a pre determined relation to each other, a mem her on one of said elements and a dog pivot ed on the other element, the member and dog having faces suliisiantially oblique and e pendicular to the path of reciprocation of said trigger the oblique faces being oposed to each other in the normal position of p the sear and trigger.

3. In a firearm, a. trigger capable of rec1 rocation only. a scar pivotally mounted p a ijacent said trigger, means for normally maintaining said scar and trigger in a pre determined relation to each other, a member on the sear and a dog pivoted on the trigger,

the member and dog having faces substantially oblique and perpendicular to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, the oblique faces being opposed to each other in the normal position of the sear and trigger.

I. In a firearm, a trigger capable of reciprocation only, a scar pivotally mounted adjacent said trigger, means for normally maintaining said scar and trigger in a pre determined relation to each other, a member on the scar and a dog pivoted to the trigger, the member having faces substantially oblique and perpendicular to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, the dog having faces oblique and perpendicular to the surface of the trigger in the normal position of the dog, the oblique faces being opposed to each other in the normal position of the sear and trigger, said dog being in capable of rotation when the oblique faces are opposed, but capable of limited rotation when the perpendicular faces are opposed.

5. In a firearm, a trigger capable of reciprocation only, a sear pivotally mounted adjacent said trigger, means for normally maintaining said scar and trigger in a predetermined relation to each other, and members on each of said elements having faces substantially oblique and perpendicular to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, the said oblique faces being opposed to each. other in the normal position of the scar and trigger, and adjustable means for limiting the reciprocation of the trigger.

6. In a firearm, a trigger capable of reciprocation only, a sear pivotally mounted adjacent said trigger, means for normally maintaining said sear and trigger in a pre determined relation to each other, a member on one of said elements, and a dog pivoted to the other element, the projection and dog having faces substantially oblique and perpendicular to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, the oblique faces being opposed to each other in the normal position of the sear and trigger, and adjustable means for limiting the reciprocation of the trigger.

In a firearm, a trigger capable of reciprocation only, a sear pivotally mounted adjacent said trigger, means for normally maintaining said scar and trigger in a predetermined relation to each other, a mem her on the scar and a dog pivoted to the trigger, the member and dog having faces substantially oblique and perpendicular to the surfaces of the path of reciprocation of said trigger, the oblique faces being opposed to each other in the normal position of the sear and trigger, and adjustable means for limiting the rec procation of the trigger.

8., In a firearm, a trigger capable of reciprocation only, a scar pivotally mounted adjacent said trigger,- means for normally maintaining said sear and trigger in a predetermined relation to each other, a member on the sear and a dog pivoted to the trigger, the member having faces substantially oblique and perpendicular to the path o-freciprocation of said trigger, the dog having faces substantially parallel to the faces on said member in the normal position of the dog, the oblique faces being opposed to each other in the normal position of the sear and trigger, said dog being incapable of rotation when the oblique faces are opposed, but capable of limited rotation when the perpendicular faces are opposed, and adjustable means for limiting the reciprocation of the trigger.

9. In a firearm, a housing, a groove therein, shoulders on the walls of said groove, a trigger reciprocatively mounted on the shoulders, a sear pivotally mounted above said trigger, legs on the forward end of said sear adapted to straddle said trigger and rest on the shoulders, means to normally maintain the legs in engagement with the shoulders, a member on one of said elements and a dog pivoted on the other element, the member and dog having faces substantially oblique and perpendicular to the path of re ciprocation of said trigger, the oblique faces being opposed to each other in the normal position of the sear and trigger.

10. In a firearm, a housing, a groove therein, shoulders on the walls of said groove, a trigger reciprocatively mounted on said shoulders, a sear pivotally mounted adjacent said trigger, legs on said sear adapted to straddle said trigger and rest on said shoulders, means to normally maintain the legs in engagement with the shoulders, and coacting means on said sear and trigger, whereby the sear is oscillated by movement of the trigger out of normal position but is left undisturbed upon the return of the trigger to normal position.

11. In a firearm, a housing, a groove therein, shoulders on the wall of said groove, a trigger reciprocatively mounted on said shoulders, a sear pivotally mounted adjacent said trigger, legs on said sear adapted to straddle said trigger and rest on said shoulders, means to normally maintain said legs in engagement with said shoulders, a member on one of said elements, and a dog pivoted to the other of said elements, said member and dog having faces substantially oblique and perpendicular to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, the oblique faces being opposed in the normal position of said sear and trigger. 7 l v 12. In an automatic firearm, areciprocating trigger, and a slide adapted to be moved transverse to :the path of reciprocation of said trigger, said slide having more than two portions 'of' different widths, whereby the extent of reciprocation of said trigger may be varied. I I

B, In an automatic firearm, a reciprocating trigger. and a slide adapted to be moved transverse to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, said slide havi'ng'more than two abutments adapted when opposed to said trigger to differently limit the extent of reciprocation thereof.

14:. In an automatic firearm, a reciprocating trigger, a slide adapted to be moved transverse to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, said slide having more than two abutments adapted when opposed to said trigger to differently limit the extent of reciprocation thereof, and means to control the position of said slide relative to said trigger.

15. In an automatic firearm, a reciprocating trigger, a slide adapted to be moved transverse to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, said slide having, abutments adapted when opposed to said trigger to differently limit the extent of reciprocation thereof, notches on said slide, and aspring pressed element adapted to seat in said notches.

16. In an automatic firearm, a reciprocating trigger, a slide adapted to be moved transverse to the path of reciprocation of j said trigger, said slide having abutments adapted when opposed to said trigger to diff'erently limit the extent of reciprocation thereof, notches on said slide, a spring pressed plunger adapted to engage in said notches the arrangement of the projection, and notches being such that in one position of the slide it can be moved only in one direction without disengaging said plunger from the notch but in all other positions can be moved in either direction without operating the plunger.

17. In an automatic firearm, a reciprocating trigger, a slide adapted to be moved transverse to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, said slide having abutments adapted when opposed tosaid trigger to differently limit the extent of reciprocation thereof notches on said slide, one wall of one of said notches being perpendicular to the path of reciprocation of said slide, and a spring pressed plunger adapted to engage in said notches the faces of said plunger being oblique and perpendicular respectively to the path of reciprocation of said slide.

18. In an automatic firearm, a trigger,

means to differently limit the operation of said trigger whereby the firearm is adapted for volley firing, single-shot firing or locked condition, and means for setting said limiting means, said means being characterized by the fact that the change from volley to single-shot firing, from single-shot to volley, or from locked condition to either volley or single-shot may be made merely by pressure applied solely to said slide, but that the change from volley or single-shot firing can be made only after a positive and intentional operation of said setting means,

19. In an automatic firearm, a reciprocating trigger, a slide having means for differently limiting the extent of reciprocation of said trigger, whereby the firearm is adapted for volley firing, single-shot firing or locked condition, and means for setting said limiting means, said means being characterized by the fact that the change from volley t0 single-shot firing, from single-shot to volley, or from locked condition to either volley or single-shot may be made merely by pressure applied solely to said slide but that the change "from volley or single-shot firing can be made only after a positive and intentional operation of said setting means.

20. In an automaticfirearm, a firing mechanism adapted for volley firing, single-shot tiring, or locked condition, said firing mechanism including a sliding trigger and a pivoted sear, and being characterized by the fact that conditions of firing are controllable by the extent of reciprocation of thetrigger, a projection on said trigger and a slide having abutments adapted when opposed to said projection to differently limit the extent of reciprocation thereof, notches on the oppo site edge of said slide and a projection carried by a spring-pressed plunger adapted to engage said notches, the arrangement of the projection and notches being characterized by the fact that the change from volley to single-shot firing, from single-shot to volley, or from locked condition to either volley or single-shot may be made at Will, but that the change from volley or single-shot firing to locked condition can be made only after a positive and intentional movement of the plunger against the action of the spring.

21. In an automatic firearm, a reciprocating trigger, a slide adapted to be moved transverse to the path of reciprocation of said trigger, said slide having abntments adapted when opposed to said trigger to differently limit the extent of reciprocation thereof, notches in one side of said slide, one Wall of one of said notches being perpendicular to the path of reciprocation of said slide, a spring pressed plunger extending beneath said slide and an abutment projecting up from said plunger and being adapted to engage said notches, said plunger having one face perpendicular to the path of reciprocation of said slide.

CARL Gr. SWEBILIUS. 

